Everything You Need To Know About Juneteenth and How to Honor the Holiday
Juneteenth is a holiday that Black Americans have been celebrating for over a hundred years, but that is still relatively unknown to a large number of non-Black people. But in the wake of this past year's racial justice protests, that's been changing. As more companies have decided to recognize the holiday and offer employees paid time off — including Target, Nike, and Twitter — the push to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday began to receive more widespread attention. This week, Congress passed a bill to make June 19 a federal holiday, which President Joe Biden is expected to sign into law.
So what exactly is the holiday, where does it come from, and how is it celebrated? Let's break it down.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a commemoration of slavery ending in the United States. It originated in 1865, when, on June 19, the Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, carrying news that the Civil War was over and that enslaved people were now free. Yes, this was over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. But news of the Emancipation Proclamation didn't reach or was ignored by many white slave owners, especially in places like Texas, where the Union forces didn't have enough manpower to enforce the law. Celebrating the holiday on June 19 — that's where the name comes from, the combining of "June" and "nineteenth" — was a way to keep community, remember the struggles of the past, and a way to celebrate actual "freedom for all."
How is Juneteenth celebrated?
There are many ways that Juneteenth is celebrated, including partaking in activities such as fishing, barbecuing, and playing or watching baseball. At the core of Juneteenth remains a focus on education and awareness, so oftentimes people attend guest speaker events, pray, read, or talk to older community members to hear of their past experiences.
How can you participate in Juneteenth this year?
In the spirit of Juneteenth, a great way to observe the holiday would be self-reflection. Use it as a time to volunteer in your community. If you're not sure where to start, check out volunteer opportunities at Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, the United Nations, the Smithsonian Institution.
If you're able to, consider making financial contributions to Black advocacy groups and organizations, including bail funds that assist people protesting police brutality, which is one of the most direct ways to help. And because systemic racism isn't something to only think about around Juneteenth, consider setting up your donations to be recurring throughout the year, so you're constantly working toward change, or make a list of various organizations you want to support each month.
You can also dedicate the day to learning more about Black history and communities of color in the United States. Watch a documentary, such as 13th on Netflix, or read a book about race or racism. Talk to your children about race and racism and how that plays out at school or in their youth groups. Learn about a Black historical figure, such as Ida B. Wells or Fred Hampton. Take the time to listen to the perspective of someone whose experience has been different from yours, and listen with kindness and empathy. So much of what is taught about American history is white history, and Black history, which is so deeply interwoven in American history, is intentionally left out.
While Juneteenth is a day for celebration, it's also a great opportunity to do a small action that can help reintroduce forgotten or ignored Black history.
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